A proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution that would eliminate protection of public employee pensions could end up on the ballot in November.

This potential threat to current and retired state employees will be outlined by long-time Illinois lobbyist Richard Lockhart, keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the UIC chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association April 16. Lockhart will speak at 11 a.m. in the Thompson Rooms, Student Center West. The public is welcome.

“Very little public attention has been focused on this proposed amendment (Constitutional Amendment 18), which would remove the protections that now exist,” he said.

Lockhart recently retired after 58 years as a Springfield lobbyist. His clients included the State Universities Annuitants Association and other nonprofit organizations. He was a staff member for the Illinois Constitutional Convention of 1970, which produced the state’s current constitution. SUAA executive director Linda Brookhart will also speak.

The UIC SUAA meeting will be held before Lockhart’s speech, 10 a.m.-11 a.m., and a luncheon follows at noon. Cost for the luncheon is $15. For more information email Deb Matthews, debmatt18@gmail.com.